I’ve loved to write my entire life. From the time I was little, I always kept a diary and wrote short stories whenever I got the chance. I never thought twice about writing because it was just something that I’ve always done.

As I got older, I started to realize that not everyone felt the same way I did about writing. To most of my peers, the only times they were writing was when they had to for a class or something along those lines. Obviously writing a research paper is not necessarily enjoyable for anyone, but other forms of writing can be. Often times people don’t explore writing outside of academic purposes, which is extremely hard for me comprehend.

I think everyone should write. Writing can be extremely therapeutic, relaxing, and even invigorating. Whenever I’m feeling angry, upset, or confused, writing about my feelings makes me feel better. A lot of the times, it even helps me better come to terms with my emotions. Getting my thoughts down on paper really allows me to let go of the negativity in my life during that moment of frustration, and helps me better understand myself.

Writing is just like anything else – the more you do it, the better you become. People who may not be very confident in their abilities could have the potential to become amazing writers, but they may not think so. Practice makes perfect, but your writing doesn’t need to be, and that’s the best part.

Thinking of writing as something that is purely academic or research based is very limiting. There are endless possibilities for what you write and how you do so, and failing to explore those possibilities puts you at a huge loss. Not only will you become a better writer with time, you’ll also learn a lot about yourself as an individual in the process.

Start simple. Create a journal or a blog full of random thoughts, and go from there. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your writing with the world at first, that’s completely understandable. If you don’t want to share it with anyone at all, that’s perfectly okay too. After all, your writing should reflect your thoughts and feelings.

Whatever you do, write for yourself and no one else. That’s what’s really important.